The Quiet Assassin returned to Celtic Park to promote his book, his story and on his time at Celtic Park over the years, and as he posed for photographs on the touchline, he certainly did not look out of place there. In fact he still had the presence about him, a presence that only the likes of Jock Stein, Billy McNeill and their like have. Fans on a guided tour were looking on, fathers telling their sons about the man, classed as one of the most formidable competitors in the game.
David Hay is Celtic through and through, a true Celtic legend. He has held four different jobs at Celtic Park – player, manager, chief scout and assistant general manager, and talking afterwards stated that he would love to return to Celtic Park in some capacity one day.

The Quiet Assassin gives fans an insight into the man his time at Celtic, playing for Scotland, the problems he faced, and coming back to Paradise as manager and that sacking, making way for Billy McNeill.

As the media gathered to ask questions of the man – he once again gave over that impression of someone who has been doing it his whole life. He put everyone at ease and throughout acted like a gentleman, with respect and with a level of stature also. Possibly something he learned not only from the likes of Billy McNeill but also from the great man himself, Jock Stein.

As one of the Quality Street gang, Hay was an integral part of the Celtic side in the early 70s, until his move to Chelsea in 1974. In fact so much was placed on Hay’s shoulders that many pundits afterwards stated that the loss of Hay stopped Celtic from winning that 10th title in a row.

Asked about who he would not like to face against, if he was back in his playing days – Hay related back to Celtic’s clash with Ajax in 1971, when he faced Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.

He remembered, “You thought you were marking him and then he would do something out of the blue, a moment of brilliance and he would do you.”

He also recalled wee Jinky during training and stated that the wee man was very difficult to deal with also. John Greig would probably back up Hay’s comments on wee Jinky.

When asked about Celtic’s current crop of players and especially Aiden McGeady, he said, “McGeady has got talent, one of the few players nowadays who can create something out of nothing.”

But he did state that despite the quality that McGeady has, he does need to find a level of consistency with his performances.

A lot had been said on the Celtic defence from the gathered media, with more emphasis on finding out Davie’s opinion on Gary Caldwell and the contract issues currently. But when asked on how he could solve the problems at the back for the Parkhead side, he said, “Tony needs to get his best two players in his mind and then work with them. The chopping and changing at the back is not helping.”

“He needs to select the best partnership and stick with them, unless they are horrendous. You would then get more stability and less uncertainty amongst the defenders.”

From his answers throughout the Question & Answer session, you could tell he would love to work with the players on offer at Celtic Park at the moment, and would have loved to have at his disposal the money that Tony had to spend this summer.

As for Celtic’s ability to compete at the highest level, Davie said that Celtic should both invest in youngsters and splash the cash to bring in a few players through the transfer window. He emphasised the policy under the guidance of Chris McCart who was spending money bringing in or trying to bring in some of the best Scottish youngsters and also those from abroad to give Celtic some foundations for the future.

In fact, I could safely say that if Celtic managed to find another Davie Hay through their scouting trips, you could bet they would try anything at their disposal to get such a player back into the Celtic fold. He did state though that Celtic must spend within their means and not get into financial trouble.

When reminiscing about his time as a player and manager at Celtic, he looked back at his debut for the club, saying that was one of the best moments in his playing career. Although picking up his first winner’s medal, scoring against Rangers, his first cap for Scotland and playing in the World Cup for the national side also were great times.

Hay said, “I was fortunate to have a reasonable level of success as a player and as manager of Celtic.”

“As manager, I don’t think I could have given anything more to the club, but I would like to have won more. I gave it my best and had some success, and I am proud to have been a player and manager with Celtic.”

When asked on his sacking as manager, he had no hard feelings towards his successor and former team mate, Billy McNeill. It was quite evident given the comments written by Cesar the book, that the Lisbon Lion rated Hay as a player highly and as manager just as much.

Hay said on the issue of his sacking in 1987, “In reflection I would have done the same thing as Billy, who was out of work at the time, by asking for a job.”

And in his foreword McNeill stated, that he told the board to tell Davie before he even talked to them. And he knew to this day that Hay never thought he had done the dirty on him.

As a player Davie, had no regrets other than having to give up the game early due to injury. He also said, “I would have liked to have scored more goals, but I wasn’t a goal scorer.”
He looked back on his time as manager and despite what has been reported in the papers and said by the fans, he had a good working relationship with the old Celtic board. They let him get on with the football matters and did not interfere, and gave him money at the time to sign Mo Johnstone.

However he did say in his last season, “We were sitting top of the league, and we could have strengthened. It has been highlighted a lot, but a bit more financial support would have helped.”

Hay doesn’t reflect too much on it, although for a short period of time both Jack McGinn and Davie were not getting on well, that was overcome, but by the end of the season Hay was gone after finishing second to rivals Rangers.

Much has been written on Celtic and Rangers wish to play in the English Premiership or an Atlantic League. In Davie’s opinion he would prefer the clubs playing in England than an Atlantic League, “I understand why Celtic and Rangers want to make the money – hopefully to the Premiership – the Sky money. As big a club as they are and well supported as they are, than most clubs in England and in Europe, the lack of revenue is stopping both clubs from being up at a level that the fans want.”

And he stated that the only way for the clubs to match the fans high expectations were to find a greater revenue stream, to get back to the days of the 60s and 70s, when Scottish football was at an all time high.

He cannot see it happening, unless the money men gave the nod. Hay said, “The biggest change in football is the SKY TV money. They are the people who could make Celtic and Rangers wish come true.”

He did take a veiled pot shot at both clubs for publicly airing their desire to leave the SPL and to move down south. An issue he stated that could have been done behind the scenes. But he also took a shot at the double standards of the other Scottish clubs.

”Some other teams feel that Celtic and Rangers shouldn’t do that. One minute they don’t want Celtic and Rangers, then the next minute they do,” remarked Davie.

He also talked about the quality of football on show at the moment, not meant as a criticism but as fact.

“We haven’t got a Jimmy Johnstone nor a Willie Henderson, a Jim Baxter or a Denis Law. Players are idols for youngsters. Denis Law was my idol as a kid. The youngsters are striving out for them, but the standard of players now, do not come close to those of previous eras.”

And on the Gary Caldwell contract issue. Davie Hay is possibly one of the best men to ask on the subject, given that he has experiences as a player, a manager, an assistant general manager and as a football agent.

His advice to Caldwell, “Leave it to your agent, and keep it as private as you can.”

From his opinion is looked as though the impasse as he mentions has affected his performance. And despite a shaky start to his Celtic career, last season he was Celtic’s most consistent player.

But he said, “Concentrate on the football side of things. In 1973 I asked for a transfer, which was refused. I went on strike, which was stupid. But I concentrated on the football and Jock never held it against me, but at the end of the season I was transferred out.”

He continued, “To Gary. Whatever happens happens, whether he stays at Celtic or moves down south. He must make sure that he is one of the first picks out of the three defenders and take it from there.”

Moving on from Celtic and talking about his time at Livingston, he remembered an embarrassing moment as manager just after the club had qualified for the Cup Final in 2003-04, just one day after the club was placed in administration. Mentioning that he had to talk to players individually and tell them I they were staying or leaving, and if they were staying but at a reduced contract. The moment happened during his time at Almondvale, “We were playing Partick Thistle, I think we lost 5-1 that day, but as I sat down on the seat it broke. I don’t think anyone saw what happened. At the time it was embarrassing, but now I can look back on it and think it was quite funny and humorous.

Speaking of the recent demise of the Almondvale club, under Angelo Massone, Hay stated, “I was there to help out as best as I could, due to my son in law being part of the club. It didn’t work out for Angelo. Despite him having the best intentions, he did not have the resources. Some people took advantage and there was a campaign against him. But the bottom line was he didn’t have the money to take the club forward or to avoid the troubles. He had the best intentions, but Livingston always seemed to be a troubled club, even under previous owners. But under Angelo it was highlighted more publicly.”

He also felt that the decision by the Scottish Football League to demote Livingston to the Third Division should be forgotten about and the club should now look forward bit by bit to get back to the level they belong.
He said, “There would be no surprise, if they were to gain promotion this year.”

But he did say they must not rush things, concentrate on the football and take it step by step.

I would urge every Celtic fan and those fans who are interested in our football greats to go out and buy The Quiet Assassin – The Davie Hay Story. We shall be doing a review of it in Issue 10 of The 12th Man – so remember to keep an eye out for it. We would love to hear your views on the book also.

And I felt that I had to finish this article off with a quote from Billy McNeill in regards to Davie Hay.

“If you were in trouble, you could always be sure Davie would be around to give you some assistance. He was as honest as the day was long. He was a fabulous colleague n the pitch, but he was just as dependable away from the action. He has always been truthful, fair and honourable a man you are ever likely to meet. Davie, as a matter of fact, is a rarity in football in as much as no one has a bad word to say about him…. The accolades he receives are richly deserved.”

‘The Quiet Assassin – The Davie Hay Story’ published by Black & White Publishing. You can pre-order/buy it from Amazon.co.uk via the link below.

Photographs - Copyright of Vagelis Georgariou©

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